Bernard Eugene Giles

Serial killer

5known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Brevard County, Florida, USA
Date of birth: April 9, 1953
Age at first offence: 20
Characteristics: necrophilia, rape, robbery
Victim profile: Nancy Gerry, 18; Paula Hamric, 22; Carolyn Bennett, 17; Sharon Wimer, 14, and Kristi Melton, 15
Method of murder: ???
Date(s) of murder: September /November 1973
Years active: 1973
Date of arrest: —
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to life in prison on February 17, 1977

Case Summary

Case record: Bernard Eugene Giles

Status / outcome

Bernard Eugene Giles was sentenced to life in prison on February 17, 1977.

Background

Bernard Eugene Giles was declared a mentally disturbed sex offender at his first murder trial in April. Brevard Circuit Judge David U. Strawn reaffirmed that ruling. Strawn ordered Giles sent to a state hospital for treatment as a mentally disturbed sex offender. Under state statute, Giles would not begin serving time in prison until he was declared cured by state psychiatrists.

The offence

Giles pleaded guilty to killing four other young women. He confessed to killing five Titusville-area women. Giles’ confessed killings involved female victims.

The confessed bodies were found over a two-month period late last year in orange groves near here.

Charges / convictions and sentences

Giles pleaded guilty of killing four other young women and was sentenced to four consecutive life terms at hard labor on those counts.

At his first murder trial, Giles confessed to killing Nancy Gerry, 18, of Titusville. Giles faced a life sentence in the slaying of Nancy Gerry. In addition to the murder matters, Giles faced sentences for armed robbery of a Cocoa woman and for attempted rape.

Giles’ disposition included:

Life terms on four counts, 1974
Life term on another count plus 15 years on lesser felonies, 1977

Trial and sentencing

In April, Giles was declared a mentally disturbed sex offender. At the later proceedings before Brevard Circuit Judge David U. Strawn, the mentally disturbed sex offender ruling was reaffirmed, and Strawn ordered Giles sent to a state hospital for treatment.

Investigation / evidence described

Giles confessed to killing five Titusville-area women whose partly clad and decomposed bodies were found over a two-month period late last year in orange groves near here.

Confessions and victims

Giles confessed Monday to killing Paula Hamric, 22, a Titusville waitress; Carolyn Bennett, 17, of Mims; Sharon Wimer, 14, and Kristi Melton, 15, both of Titusville.

Other details

Giles’ sex was listed as “M,” his race was listed as “W,” and his type was listed as “T.” The listed motive was “Sex.” The listed mode of operation described him as a “Necrophile slayer of female victims.” The confessions and related sentencing were discussed in the St. Petersburg Times on August 14, 1974.

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